PhD Position on Circular Timber Structures: Zero-Waste Design and Construction of Structural Systems from Local and Underutilised Wood Sources
Delft University of Technology is hiring a doctoral candidate on the topic of “Circular timber structures: zero-waste design and construction of structural systems from local and underutilised wood sources”. You will be part of an international and interdisciplinary consortium, working on a Horizon Europe project that investigates climate-smart construction methods using underutilised wood sources like locally harvested hardwood, reclaimed and residual wood.
As a collaborator on the project, you will develop new zero-waste concepts for structural systems and products from local wood sources, with a specific focus on city wood and reclaimed wood components. To do so, you will review current, historic and innovative practices, co-create and elaborate the zero-waste concepts, and perform physical experiments. The co-creation and physical experimentation will happen in the context of a living lab at The Green Village, a field lab for sustainable construction innovation on the TU Delft campus. In this living lab you will collaborate with multiple actors from the timber construction practice. The physical experiments and tests will lead to the fabrication of a 1:1 demonstration. The project will rely on digital innovations and the integration of computational modelling to solve complex matching problems related to the use of dynamic and diverse stocks of wood resources. Throughout the project, you will interact with Architecture and Building Technology students, bridging research and education through design and making activities.
Requirements
- Masters degree in Building Technology, Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related field;
- Master thesis should preferably be related to structural design, timber structures or structural reuse;
- Strong technical background and experience with structural design;
- You enjoy performing research, including experimental work. You are independent, self-motivated and eager to learn. You are keen to develop new fundamental knowledge and engineer novel solutions for addressing real-world societal challenges, particularly in the sustainable use of wood;
- Ability to work in a team, to be pro-active and to collaborate with students, researchers and industry partners;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English proven by a minimum band score of 100 in the TOEFL iBT test (with a minium score of 21 for each section, obtained in a single test) or a minimum band score of 7.0 in the IELTS test (with a minimum score of 6.5 for each section). For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements. The employment contract will only start after successful completion of one of these tests;
- Practical experience with working with wood, experience with parametric design and computational modelling and/or experience with 1:1 making is a plus.
